Hotel at a Glance: Sybaris Pool Suites Mequon

Founded in 1974 by Chicagoan Ken Knudson as a retreat for couples, the Sybaris hotel group provides romantic getaways for more than 50,000 couples per year at five locations across the Midwest. Sybaris Pool Suites Mequon opened in 1992, occupying a renovated 150-year-old farmhouse and 35-year-old motel less than 15 miles north of Milwaukee.

• Deluxe jetted tub suite comes with a jetted tub, misting steam room, fireplace, massage chair, microwave, and refrigerator.
• Paradise swimming pool suite features a 16-foot heated swimming pool, tropical waterfall, hot tub, steam room, and massage chair.
• Romance package: Your stay comes with a bottle of champagne, chocolate-covered strawberries, two Sybaris souvenir champagne glasses, and a one-year Sybaris membership.
• Sybaris membership perks: You can make reservations at any Sybaris and you’ll receive special discounts during your anniversary and birthday months.
• Distance from Lake Michigan: less than 6 miles

Mequon, Wisconsin: Quiet Lakeside Town Outside Milwaukee

Mequon is a rural community on the western shores of Lake Michigan, just 15 miles north of Milwaukee. It’s got plenty of green space: you can stroll through River Barn Park along the Milwaukee River or head to the Schlitz Audubon Nature Center along Lake Michigan. Here, there are 6 miles of trails in a 185-acre expanse of wilderness, and you can climb a 60-foot observation tower for panoramic views.

Farther south is Milwaukee, a proud-and-unpretentious city with working-class roots. The town has been synonymous with brewing since the mid-1800s, when Miller, Pabst, and Schlitz dominated the landscape. Visit the Flemish-style Pabst Mansion, the 1890 estate of beer baron Frederick Pabst, and you’ll see just how profitable the beer business was. The mansion has 14 fireplaces, an opulent dining room, and several hidden compartments. Today there’s a new microbrew-inspired scene. Lakefront Brewery on North Commerce Street has one of the city’s best tours. Here, witty tour guides take guests through the beer-brewing process, encouraging them to enjoy samples of Lakefront’s india pale ale and organic coffee stout along the way.